Halifax-Dartmouth Bridge
Commission Dissolution Act

Short title

1 This Act may be cited as the Halifax-Dartmouth Bridge Commission Dissolution Act. 2026, c. 3, Sch., s. 1.

Interpretation

2 In this Act,

"Commission" means the Halifax-Dartmouth Bridge Commission, a body corporate continued under the Halifax-Dartmouth Bridge Commission Act;

"Link Nova Scotia" means Link Nova Scotia, a body corporate established by the Link Nova Scotia Act. 2026, c. 3, Sch., s. 2.

Commission dissolved

3 (1) The Commission is dissolved.

(2) All appointments of persons as members of the Commission are revoked.

(3) All contracts, agreements, orders or by-laws relating to the remuneration, allowances or expenses to be paid to persons as members of the Commission are null and void. 2026, c. 3, Sch., s. 3.

Commission member indemnity

4 The Crown in right of the Province shall indemnify and hold harmless a person who was a member of the Commission before the coming into force of this Act, and the heirs, executors, estate and effects of the person, with respect to all costs, charges and expenses that the person incurs in relation to any action, application or other proceeding brought or prosecuted against the person in connection with the duties of the person as a member of the Commission except costs, charges and expenses that are occasioned by the person’s own wilful neglect or wilful default. 2026, c. 3, Sch., s. 4.

No action lies

5 No action, application or other proceeding lies or may be instituted against a former member of the Commission or the Minister of Public Works before any court or administrative body in the Province as a result of

(a) the dissolution of the Commission; or

(b) the revocation of the appointments of the members of the Commission. 2026, c. 3, Sch., s. 5.

Commission by-laws repealed

6 (1) All by-laws made by the Commission under the Halifax-Dartmouth Bridge Commission Act are repealed.

(2) Subsection (1) does not affect a prosecution commenced prior to the coming into force of this Act for a violation of the by-laws made by the Commission. 2026, c. 3, Sch., s. 6.

Transfer of assets

7 (1) Upon the coming into force of this Act, all property of the Commission, both real and personal, all assets of the Commission and all interests or rights of the Commission in or to any property are transferred and assigned to and vested in Link Nova Scotia.

(2) For greater certainty, this Act is a legal and valid transfer and assignment to Link Nova Scotia of all lands or interests in land, mortgages, charges, encumbrances or other documents and all other property of every description standing in the name of, or vested in, the Commission. 2026, c. 3, Sch., s. 7.

Transfer of legal rights and obligations

8 (1) Upon the coming into force of this Act, all liabilities, contracts, obligations, debts, causes of action, actions, appeals, applications or other proceedings of the Commission, or in the name of the Commission, are transferred to and assumed by Link Nova Scotia.

(2) Except as otherwise provided in this Act, nothing in this Act affects the rights of any creditor of the Commission or any person with a claim against the Commission and all those rights may be asserted against Link Nova Scotia.

(3) Link Nova Scotia may bring or maintain, in its name, any action, application or other proceeding, or exercise any power, right or remedy that the Commission was, could have been or could have become entitled to bring, maintain or exercise on or before the coming into force of this Act. 2026, c. 3, Sch., s. 8.

Validity of transfer or assignment

9 (1) No prohibition of any transfer or assignment, or absence of any consent or approval required for any transfer or assignment, voids or affects the validity of a transfer or assignment pursuant to Section 7 or 8.

(2) A transfer or assignment pursuant to Section 7 or 8 is deemed not to be a breach or default under any lease, contract or instrument. 2026, c. 3, Sch., s. 9.

Transfer of records

10 Upon the coming into force of this Act, the books, records, documents and files of the Commission are the books, records, documents and files of Link Nova Scotia. 2026, c. 3, Sch., s. 10.

Transfer of employees

11 (1) Upon the coming into force of this Act, every employee of the Commission

(a) ceases to be an employee of the Commission and becomes an employee of Link Nova Scotia;

(b) is employed by Link Nova Scotia on the same terms and conditions of employment as those under which the employee was employed by the Commission, until changed by contract of employment or collective bargaining, as the case may be;

(c) is deemed to have been employed with Link Nova Scotia for the same period of employment that the employee was credited with as an employee of the Commission; and

(d) is entitled to all vacation leave accumulated, less any vacation arrears that accrued, while the employee was employed by the Commission.

(2) The continuity of employment of an employee transferred under this Section is not broken by the effect of this Section.

(3) For greater certainty, the operation of this Section does not

(a) constitute a termination, constructive dismissal or layoff of any employee;

(b) constitute a breach, termination, repudiation or frustration of any contract;

(c) constitute an event of default or force majeure under any contract; or

(d) give rise to a breach, termination, repudiation or frustration of any licence, permit or other right, or to any right to terminate or repudiate a contract, licence, permit or other right, or to any estoppel. 2026, c. 3, Sch., s. 11.

Transferee under Trade Union Act

12 Link Nova Scotia is a transferee of the business of the Commission for the purpose of Section 31 of the Trade Union Act. 2026, c. 3, Sch., s. 12.

Participation in Public Service Superannuation Plan

13 Every employee of Link Nova Scotia who, immediately before the coming into force of this Act, was an employee of the Commission and was an employee within the meaning of the Public Service Superannuation Act or was included in a bargaining unit whose collective agreement provided for participating in the Public Service Superannuation Plan is deemed to continue to be an employee in the public service of the Province for the purpose of the Public Service Superannuation Act, and service in the employment of Link Nova Scotia is deemed to be service in the public service of the Province for the purpose of that Act. 2026, c. 3, Sch., s. 13.

Participation in Nova Scotia Public Service Long Term Disability Plan

14 Subject to any applicable collective agreement or contract of employment, each former employee of the Commission who, before the coming into force of this Act, was covered by the Nova Scotia Public Service Long Term Disability Plan or was included in a bargaining unit whose collective agreement provided for long-term disability benefits under the Plan is deemed to continue to be a person to whom the Plan applies. 2026, c. 3, Sch., s. 14.

Reference to Halifax-Dartmouth Bridge Commission

15 A reference to the Halifax-Dartmouth Bridge Commission in any Act other than this Act or in any regulation, rule, order, by-law, agreement or other instrument or document must, unless the context otherwise requires, be read as a reference to Link Nova Scotia. 2026, c. 3, Sch., s. 15.

Expropriation Act amended

16 amendment

Halifax-Dartmouth Bridge Commission Act amended

17 to 33 amendments

Halifax Regional Municipality Charter amended

34 amendment

Motor Vehicle Act amended

35 amendment

Traffic Safety Act amended

36 to 39 amendments

Effective date

40 This Act comes into force on such day as the Governor in Council orders and declares by proclamation. 2026, c. 3, Sch., s. 40.